“I am Beatrice”: The Ode to the Divine Feminine by Pierpaolo Ramotto
On Thursday 9 May, at the Art Gallery of Giovanni Remoli in Foligno, the exhibition “Divino Femminino, … I am Beatrice who makes you go” by Pierpaolo Ramotto opened its doors, an artistic event curated by Camilla Giacomini which will remain accessible to the public until to May 19th. This unique exhibition brings to light the ancient veneration of the sacred feminine, an inspiring principle that runs through history from Lilith to today, exploring the complex representations of femininity in its many facets.
Pierpaolo Ramotto, through his art, navigates between the ascetic and the sensual, capturing the essence of female figures who marked eras of great cultural and social restriction for women. The artist proposes a set of works that range from drawings to digital works, all centered on Dante’s imagery and the figure of Beatrice, who represents a model of femininity that transcends the simple inspiring muse to become a spokesperson for a high spirituality and a profound theological truth.
The exhibition reflects on the double female model proposed in the Middle Ages: on the one hand Eve, associated with perdition, and on the other Mary, symbol of inaccessible grace. With the advent of chivalric literature and the arrival of Dolce Stil Novo, the female figure takes on a more ennobling role, embodying virtues that elevate the human soul. Beatrice, in particular, becomes a symbol of this transition: from Dante’s earthly love to a spiritual guide who leads the poet through the heavens in the “Divine Comedy”.
Ramotto’s work celebrates this transition, illustrating how the divine feminine serves as a bridge between the earthly and the celestial, promoting a journey of purification and knowledge that is inherently feminine. Beatrice is not only an earthly beloved but also a celestial figure who guides Dante and, by extension, the audience towards a deeper understanding of spiritual love, which in Dante transforms into agape, a selfless and saving love.
Ramotto’s life and art are deeply intertwined with the search for expression that transcends conventional boundaries, as demonstrated by his use of non-traditional materials and his constant commitment to numerous art forms, from painting to ceramics, to digital. His training and his international collaborations testify to an artist who has always tried to overcome the limits of artistic expression, making the female figure not only a subject to be represented but a voice through which to explore and communicate broader and universal truths.
